Real vs Perceived Danger
June/02/2017 22:24 Filed in: skill development | mindset
The Value of Training in Reality: Real vs Perceived Danger - by Jay Izienicki - Chief Instructor
After a recent consulting meeting with a private school attempting to introduce concealed carry for their teachers on campus, I was motivated to write about the importance of training in reality. It also reinforced why we have made this a cornerstone of our training programs. After all, our core concept is Prepared Defensive Action with heavy emphasis on Prepared.
While being shown around the campus, my friend, who runs this particular school for performing arts, told me, “We can show anyone how to read music and make them practice it to a high level but it is an entirely different thing to teach them to understand music and be able to create it on their own. That is why we do what we do.” Wow. I realized that what he told me was consistent with our philosophy of training “skills” and teaching “why” and this can be applied across every training genre.
While being shown around the campus, my friend, who runs this particular school for performing arts, told me, “We can show anyone how to read music and make them practice it to a high level but it is an entirely different thing to teach them to understand music and be able to create it on their own. That is why we do what we do.” Wow. I realized that what he told me was consistent with our philosophy of training “skills” and teaching “why” and this can be applied across every training genre.
There have been many times when people have asked me, when talking about my interactions with criminals while on duty, “Why would you take that risk? Why would you do something so dangerous?” For most LEO’s it is learning, through realistic training, to deal with the danger of it and manage the fear that comes with it.
So, how do we deal with the fear versus danger? How do we avoid going into caveman mode and relying on our primitive brain to problem solve for us in the moment of crisis? How do we change our behavior?
Let me tell you how not to do it first. This reprogramming is not done by taking 500 rounds to the range and shooting randomly and without purpose at targets just so you can tell everyone you are a badass, post some pics on Instagram and say you went to the range today. Having a house full of guns and ammo without realistic training doesn’t make you prepared for the fight of your life where you must face both danger and fear.
In order to change your behavior under stress you must add reality into your training. This requires the use of simulation and repetitive practice. You have to make “choices” when training. You have to create scenarios that force Boarding House Rules because that is what will likely be your reality (multiple threats, which one first?). There has to be some level of decision making and time constraints involved in your training because you will most definitely have to decide in a split second if, when and how you get involved. You must also practice things going wrong and not just everything going right - you must be constantly experiencing the dangers and likely realities of the gun fight. Remember, your range time is used to validate the things you have been practicing off the range.
What if you become injured? Have you ever incorporated injury into your training? Have you ever attempted to manipulate your weapon with a blood like substance on it? We aren’t talking about simply shooting strong hand versus support hand here. We are talking true movement and weapon manipulation with a likely injury.
Think about what could be the scariest thing you could experience and then recreate it and practice it so you win. You want to prepare your mind for where your body may have to go, even if that means you’re injured. This way your primal fear reaction doesn’t happen. Instead, you will take inventory of your situation and condition by saying, “I’m injured but I can see, talk and move” and then take action.
When you finally encounter the criminal threat for real you will perceive the danger differently and will feel less fear as a result because you know what to do. Your encounter will feel much different than it would if you just encountered it for the first time. You will have changed your fundamental human behavior, your primal caveman fear, and you will now be able to function without the fear of your reaction to a criminal threat.
Through realistic training you will be able to determine the difference between what is the real risk and what it is that you should actually be afraid of. You will increase your chances of winning because the rest of the world will be walking around with just a generic fear of bad things happening to them and you will already know that if your first plan of action doesn’t work you will have another. Things that once seemed impossible or massively terrifying can actually be managed under stress because you have already had to work it out in the relative safety of the square range.
You will understand and create music instead of just reading sheet music. Now you know there is a difference. Train in Reality and Stay Safe.
Stay in the fight.